Lazard Expands Presence
As Swiss M&A Adviser

Firm Aims to Gain
On Investment Banks
In European Ranking

By

Vivek Ahuja

Updated Sept. 13, 2007 12:01 a.m. ET

Lazard Ltd. is planning to take on Switzerland's biggest banks and other top merger and acquisition advisers after opening its first office in the country as part of its push to expand its European financial-advisory business.

The creation of the office comes less than a year after Lazard won its first European advisory mandate from Nestl&eacute; SA, the world's biggest food company. In December, Lazard worked on Nestl&eacute;'s $2.5 billion purchase of a medical-nutrition business from Swiss drug maker Novartis...